Last reviewed: April 16, 2026 by Jake Terry, FFL07/SOT3 — reviewed at minimum every 180 days against current federal and carrier guidance.

Ammunition Shipping Rules

Ammunition is regulated differently from complete firearms, and it is regulated differently from state to state, county to county, and sometimes city to city. This page is the short version of what a buyer needs to know before placing an ammunition order with Tatted Tacticals.

Federal Minimum Age

Under federal law (Gun Control Act of 1968):

• Buyer must be at least 18 years old to purchase rifle or shotgun ammunition.
• Buyer must be at least 21 years old to purchase handgun ammunition.

Ammunition that can be used in both a handgun and a rifle or carbine (common calibers like 9mm, .223 / 5.56, .357 Magnum, and .22 LR) is treated as handgun ammunition for age purposes by most carriers and by our checkout. Expect a 21-year minimum on those calibers regardless of the platform the buyer intends to shoot them in.

Carrier Restrictions

Ammunition ships as a hazardous material (ORM-D / Class 1.4S) by ground only — never by air. This has three consequences for orders:

• Ground-only delivery. Expedited air options are unavailable for any order containing ammunition.
• Adult signature required. An adult 21 or older must sign for delivery on all ammunition shipments, regardless of caliber.
• HazMat fee. A flat HazMat handling fee applies per package; see the shipping policy page for the current amount.

States, Counties, and Cities We Cannot Ship Ammunition To

The following jurisdictions have statutes, ordinances, or carrier restrictions that prevent direct-to-consumer ammunition shipments at the present review date:

• State-level restrictions: Ammunition shipments to California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. are restricted and in most cases require a licensed intermediary (a vendor registered with the state, or an FFL). We do not currently ship ammunition into these states via direct-to-consumer channels.
• City and county restrictions: Select counties in Colorado (Boulder), Maryland, and cities (Chicago and suburbs, certain boroughs of New York City) apply additional restrictions that prevent delivery. Our checkout will flag an unsupported ZIP before payment.

This list is not exhaustive and changes frequently. If checkout blocks your order, the reason is almost always a jurisdictional restriction rather than an inventory issue.

Storage and Handling After Delivery

Basic ammunition storage rules keep a round functional and safe:

• Store in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight. Modern smokeless powder is stable across typical indoor temperatures; it degrades over years if repeatedly cycled through hot attics or humid basements.
• Keep ammunition in its original factory packaging or a labeled ammo can. Mixed calibers in one container is how people eventually chamber the wrong round in the wrong gun.
• Store separately from firearms and out of reach of unauthorized users — especially minors.
• Do not attempt to disassemble, modify, or reload a factory round without the equipment and training to do so safely.

Corrections

If an ammunition restriction on this page has changed for your jurisdiction, contact us so we can update. The last review date at the top of this page reflects our most recent compliance check.

Back to compliance · State restrictions overview · About the editor